Darien parents charged in underage drinking party

Police were forced to halt train traffic on May 13 after drunk teens fleeing the Darien officers were spotted running into the woods next to a train track.

Around 1:15 a.m., police responded to a home on Silver Lakes Drive on a noise complaint. Upon arrival, officers saw several people in front of the house. When the officers were spotted, several teenagers ran into the woods, which are next to Metro-North train tracks.

Officers contacted the MTA and halted train traffic while they located the teens in the woods. Officers found several teenagers, and lifted the hold on train traffic after returning the teens to the house. Six New Canaan and Darien teens, ages 16 and 17, were later turned over to their parents. At least one of the teens was visibly intoxicated.

At the house, police found empty beer cans on the garage floor, and beer cans and alcohol containers on the tables.

Paul Arevalo, 55, and Anastasia Arevalo, 49 — who were home at the time of the party — said they knew their child was having friends over for a party, but said they did not know they were drinking. Both were charged with permitting minors to illegally possess alcohol. They were issued misdemeanor summonses on the scene and released on a promise to appear in court on May 23.

Darien police said parents and property owners are responsible for what happens in their homes and will be cited if they know or should have known about underage drinking at their home and failed to prevent it.